Was reading some threads on Drum Corps Planet and came across one about SCV going back to the tilt this year.  Found some of it quite amusing, figured I share.

http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=108394

Here's the golden question:

[b]Why were the drums originally tilted the direction they were (downward and to the left)?[/b]

[cue Final Jeopardy music]

[quote author=J Mattson link=topic=2400.msg12803#msg12803 date=1207838353]
Traditional grip was created because drums were tilted in their sling, so I say tilt it unless playing matched grip.

[img]http://www.fifedrum.org/webring/spiritof76_medium.jpg[/img]
[/quote]

History Lesson time...

The ";Traditional Grip"; actually predates the marching snare drum, and goes WAY back to clay pots that were held up by the face, and were tilted downward, for the left hand to play on an angle.  This stuck when drums were mounted to the human body, and carried on for a VERY long time.

Now, as far as Tilt or No Tilt.  The shoulders of a player playing flat mounted traditional has the left shoulder raised, and therefore putting more pressure on that shoulder.  Yes, we have been fighting through it for a long time, but the Tilt is starting to let players play with a more natural technique.

However, it is a fad, and I'm guessing we will see it go away....

Tilt!

surprised the '[i]Tilt masters'[/i] haven't rang on this yet....probably tired of hearing it too...lol

We've been tilting the snares at my school for 4 years now.  At first the kids wanted to do it as a hype and after that, it just stuck.  I enjoy the look of a tilted line and know that it's easier on the hands and puts them in a more natural position to play.

Now, if only Murray won't make comments about my drums being crooked before a competition we'll be set.  :)

[quote author=Bryan Harmsen link=topic=2400.msg12812#msg12812 date=1207852297]
We have a winner right out of the gate! Nice guess, Keith.  As most people tend to be right handed, it made the most sense to allow more freedom on the right side of the body whenever the drummers needed to actually fight.  What a bummer--nothing worse than having to stop throwing down sweet beats to stab somebody in the eye with a bayonette.
[/quote]

And no doubt that those guys were playing drums for a reason... If the drummer has to take part, you've already lost the battle!

Yeah, but if you're gonna interrupt the beats, it better be worth it.  :)

We have a winner right out of the gate! Nice guess, Keith.  As most people tend to be right handed, it made the most sense to allow more freedom on the right side of the body whenever the drummers needed to actually fight.  What a bummer--nothing worse than having to stop throwing down sweet beats to stab somebody in the eye with a bayonette.

[quote author=Bryan Harmsen link=topic=2400.msg12808#msg12808 date=1207845900]
Here's the golden question:

[b]Why were the drums originally tilted the direction they were (downward and to the left)?[/b]

[cue Final Jeopardy music]
[/quote]

A wild guess:  Easier to for the drummer to fight with a weapon in his right hand if the drum was on the left?

Right on Jesse. Everything I have ever been taught about the tilt goes back to the old days of drummin when the drums were on slings and naturally tilted. Thus the origin of Traditional grip. It is way to hard to play match grip on a drum that is that tilted, or even tilted period from my experiences. It is a pretty cool effect when match is played on a tilted snare for visual perspective. If it aint broken don't fix it, and like Mike said, if you dont like it, just close your eyes and listen to the beats, if it sounds good, then whats the problem?

Jesse's got the right response. I though about being a wiseguy and saying that the first DCI line to win a Percussion title with the tilt was the 72 Kingsmen. And, the first SCV line to win with the tilt was 1973.

Ted Boliske
(just another really old guy)

Traditional grip was created because drums were tilted in their sling, so I say tilt it unless playing matched grip.

[img]http://www.fifedrum.org/webring/spiritof76_medium.jpg[/img]

I'm a fan of the tilt.  SCV seems to pull it off and make it look very cool.  Any school that I teach/clinic, I usually suggest tilting the snares if they play traditional grip.  It seems to make the motion in the left arm easier b/c you don't have to bring the elbow in (towards the drum) so far during upward motion.  I don't think it necessarily gives a playing advantage.  But that's just my opinion...

Does the tilt of your shako or aussie really make a difference on the how clean you play? I would have to disagree.




OOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh You were talking about tilting the drum. :) jk If you don't like the tilt, just close your eyes and listen to the beats. If the beats are clean, then it's the greatest idea ever.... if not, then it MUST be the fact that the drums are tilted.


(sorry for the BAD sarcasm, I'll work on it)